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The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon before 1972) is a tropical island nation off the southeast coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known in ancient times as
Lanka, Lankadweepa (meaning "Resplendent Land" in Sanskrit), Taprobane and Serendib (derived from the Sanskrit name Sinhala-dweepa) and Selan, the island became known as
Ceylon in colonial times, a name still used on occasion. Its current name is Sri Lanka. Life on
the island has been marred by nearly two decades of ethnic conflict, mainly between the national government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) insurgency; in early 2002 there was agreement on a ceasefire.
History
Main article: History of Sri Lanka
The pre-historical human inhabitants were the Wanniyala-Aetto,
more commonly known as Veddahs. The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the
6th century BC, probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-3rd century BC and a great civilisation developed at such cities as Anuradhapura (kingdom from c. 200 BC to
c. 1000 AD) and Polonnaruwa (c.
1070 to 1200). Tamils from southern India also came to the island, exactly how many and when is a matter of dispute, but by
the 13th century there was a substantial Tamil society in the north, and
many fishing communities elsewhere along the island's coastline. Tamils in Sri Lanka developed a somewhat distinct culture and
polity from their mainland cousins. Relations between Tamils (of India and Sri Lanka) and Sinhalese were complex - sometimes
peaceful and sometimes warlike, including invasions in both directions and substantial intermixing.
After the Polonnaruwa kingdom, the Sinhalese capital moved through several
cities over the next few centuries. It had settled in Kotte when coastal regions were
occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch in
the 17th century. The entire island was ceded to the British in 1796 and became a crown colony
in 1802. As Ceylon it became independent in 1948; in
1972 its name was changed to Sri Lanka and the capital was moved to Kotte. Tensions between
the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority erupted in violence in the mid-1980s. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic war that
continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the government began a ceasefire in December 2001,
and Norway is mediating the peace process.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Sri Lanka
The president of the republic, directly elected for a 6-year term, serves as both head of state and head of government, as
well as commander in chief of the armed forces. Responsible to parliament for the exercise of duties under the constitution and laws, the president may be removed from office by a two-thirds
vote of parliament with the concurrence of the Supreme Court. The president appoints and heads a cabinet of ministers responsible to parliament. The president's deputy is the prime minister, who leads the ruling party in
parliament.
The Sri Lankan Parliament is a unicameral 225-member legislature elected by universal (adult) suffrage on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by district to a
6-year term. The primary modification is a unique "bonus seats" provision under which the party receiving the largest number of
valid votes in each constituency receives an additional or bonus seat. (For a more detailed description of the effects of the
bonus seat provision, see "Explaining the Two-Party System in Sri Lanka's National Assembly" by John Hickman in Contemporary
South Asia, Volume 8, Number 1, March 1999, pp. 29-40.) The president may summon, suspend, or end a legislative session and
dissolve parliament any time after it has been in place for one year. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws. Sri Lanka
has remained a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations.
Parliament was dissolved on February 7, 2004 by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. New
elections were held on April 2 and the new parliament convened on April 23.
See also: Sri Lankan parliamentary election, 2004
Provinces
Main article: Provinces of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka consists of 9 provinces:
- Central
- Eastern
- North Central
- Northern
- North Western
- Sabaragamuwa
- Southern
- Uva
- Western
Geography
Main article: Geography of Sri Lanka
The island of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, lies within the Indian Ocean,
with the Bay of Bengal to the northeast, separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. Adam's Bridge,
a land connection to the Indian mainland that according to Hindu
mythology was constructed during the rule of Rama, is now mostly submerged with only a
chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level.
The pear-shaped island consists mostly of flat to rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south central part
of the island, amongst which are Adam's Peak and the Pidurutalagala, the highest point at
2,524 m.
The Sri Lankan climate is tropical and characterised by monsoons; the northeast monsoon which lasts from December to March and the southwest monsoon from June to
October. The administrative and commercial capital is Colombo, but parliament is
located in nearby Kotte. Other major cities include Jaffna, Galle, and Kandy.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Sri Lanka
Famous historically for its cinnamon and tea
and moderately socialist after independence, Sri Lanka has in the last 20 years
increasingly engaged in privatisation and moved towards market-oriented
policies and export-oriented trade. While tea and rubber are still important in the economy, the most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of
exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%.
GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5%
throughout the 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered
growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%. But 2001 saw the first contraction in the country's history, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary
problems, the global slowdown, and continuing
civil strife. However, it is now showing signs of recovery after the Government and the LTTE signed a ceasefire in 2001.
Colombo stock exchange reported the highest growth in Asia for 2003. Today, Sri Lanka has the highest per capita income in South
Asia.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Sri
Lanka
Around 75% of the Sri Lankan population belongs to the Sinhalese majority,
which is predominantly Buddhist and in particular of the Theravada tradition. The other major group on the island are the Tamils which constitute some 18% of the population. They are predominantly Hindu and live mostly in the north and east of the country. Both Sinhala and Tamil languages have enjoyed the "official"
status since the Indo-Lanka accord in 1989. English, the national language, is the mother tongue of roughly 10% of the population
and is spoken and understood widely. All three languages are used for purposes of education and administration.
Smaller minorities include the (Tamil-speaking) Muslims (7%), the Burghers of mixed European descent (1%) and the Wanniyala-Aetto or Veddahs, the few remaining descendants of earlier cultures. Buddhism (70%) and
Hinduism (15%) are the dominant religions, with Christianity (8%) (7%
Catholic and 1% Protestant) and Islam (mostly Sunni) (7%) forming sizable religious minorities.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Sri Lanka
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Sri Lanka
- Transportation in Sri Lanka
- Foreign relations of Sri Lanka
- Military of Sri Lanka
- National parks
- Kitulgala
- Nuwara Eliya
- Sri Lankan birds
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